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DC Voting Rights Grant

DC Democracy Grant to Promote District of Columbia Self-Determination, Voting Rights, or Statehood

Pursuant to Section 1022 of DC Act 19-93, the “Office of the Secretary Limited Grant-Making Authority Emergency Act of 2011,” the Secretary has limited authority to issue competitive grants to non-profit organizations to promote District of Columbia self-determination, voting rights and/or Statehood. The objective of the grant is to strengthen support for democracy for the citizens of the District through activities that promote District voting representation in Congress, Statehood, legislative and budget autonomy, or full democracy.

Background: the residents of the District of Columbia are United States citizens who serve in the military and pay federal taxes, but have been denied basic liberties and the same democratic rights as other states and municipalities, including budget and legislative autonomy and full voting representation in the United States House of Representative and the United States Senate. The District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 provided limited “Home Rule” for the District by allowing the election of a Mayor and Council of the District of Columbia. Over the past 39 years, the District’s elected officials and various groups have pursued strategies to raise awareness and secure changes in law to authorize DC voting representatives to the US House of Representatives and US Senate and legislative autonomy. Unfortunately, full democracy has been derailed by non-germane proposals, riders on appropriations bills and failure to garner enough support for enactment.